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The Union Jal Shakti Ministry has responded to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claims regarding the release of water from the Maithon and Panchet dams, which she described as causing a 'man-made flood'. The Ministry clarified that water was released only after thorough discussions with representatives from the state government, as well as Odisha's, as part of the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee. This committee oversees the management of the Maithon and Panchet dams, and decisions to release water are made with its consent.
The Ministry also revealed that, at the state’s request, 50% less water than planned was released between September 14 and 17. However, due to heavy rains on September 16 and 17, the decision was reconsidered to prevent any accidents. In response to the Chief Minister's call for renovation of the dams, the Ministry noted that the proposed improvements were not technically or economically feasible, though efforts to remove silt are ongoing. The state’s suggestions to reduce flood damage are also under consideration. These comments follow a letter from the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister, where she accused the DVC of releasing water without warning.